A Little House Hunting in Columbus, MS

We thought the best place to start would be the Visitor Center. Turned out this Welcome Center was the childhood home of the Playwright, Tennessee Williams.   His father traveled a lot so he lived with his grand father, a pastor for St. Paul's Episcopal church and this house was the rectory for that church. The house, built in 1875, was going to be flattened when the church wanted to expand so the city of Columbus bought the house and moved it a few blocks to this spot.

 Front of house

Back of house

This 1873 organ is in the front room in the Williams' home and still works... the hostess at the home played it for us.

This is a sample of the wood work in this beautiful old home.

We toured the upstairs and then went on a driving tour around the historical district.  Here is my favorite house.

This antebellum home, built in 1843, is called “Whitehall”.   Most all these old home are on National register of Historical American buildings.  Even though they are privately owned and have people actually living in them, they are opened once or twice a week for the public.

Then we drove a few miles to Waverley Mansion built in 1852.

The first thing we noticed was the 250 year old magnolia tree in the front yard! The great grandchildren of the original owners of this once 2,000 acre cotton plantation climbed it.

Inside the Mansion you are not allowed to take photos.  But the guide said I could stand just outside the door and take pictures. Here is the view as you enter the front door.  This is a self-supporting staircase.  It has 719 spindles! 

In this photo I am standing just outside the back door looking into same front foyer.   Notice the red appearing glass all around the front door.  It shows up because of the light behind it and is made with some gold dust in the panes making it look red.

Here is a sample of the patterned glassed used downstairs in the transoms over the doors....I was outside on the porch to photograph this.

This is taken from just outside the second story balcony door.

There are four rooms off this second floor balcony. There are 3 balconies... but we were only allowed on the first one.  We were told there is attic space off the second floor balcony and just an observation area on the 4^th or top floor. This home is unique because of the open space going all the way from the entry floor to the 4^th floor copula. 

The Captain has just told me we are NOT leaving tomorrow as planned... WHY do I plan??!  Tomorrow IS a special day.... but why can't we be on the water?... hummmm???